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The future of South African track cycling is headed to the global stage. Cycling South Africa (Cycling SA) has officially unveiled the junior national team selected to compete at the prestigious 2026 UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships.
The high-octane event is set to take place from August 19 to 23 at the state-of-the-art Sport Vlaanderen Velodrome in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. Representing a major milestone for the sport’s rising stars, the selection was finalized in strict accordance with the 2026 Cycling SA Track Selection Policy.
The Proving Ground of Champions
The UCI Junior Track World Championships serve as the ultimate proving ground for under-19 riders, acts as a traditional launchpad for future Olympic and elite World Championship glory. This year’s competition marks a historic return to Belgium—widely revered as one of cycling’s spiritual homes—which hasn’t hosted the junior track showpiece in decades.
The battles will unfold on a cutting-edge 250-meter indoor timber track. Opened in 2023, the Heusden-Zolder velodrome is one of only two UCI-certified indoor tracks in Flanders. On brakeless, single-fixed-gear machines, these young athletes will hit blistering speeds on steeply banked boards, where the margin between a gold medal and heartbreak is often just the width of a tire.
The South African Contingent
South Africa is sending a lean, hungry squad packed with talent across both the sprint and endurance disciplines. The selected riders and management team include:
Junior Men:
- Hayden Salzwedel
- Daniel Le Roux
- Noah September
- Cameron Wilcox
Junior Women:
- Hannie Vreken
- Jemma Barnard
- Shanique Marx
Team Management:
- Manager: Sonja Schultz
- Team Staff: Jean Spies
- Mechanic: Adrian Salzwedel
Eyes on the Future
The announcement has sparked immense pride within the local cycling community. Greg Stedman, Vice President of Sport and Technical at Cycling SA, underscored the weight of the achievement.
“On behalf of Cycling South Africa, we congratulate every rider and staff member selected to wear the national colours in Belgium,” Stedman said. “Earning selection to a World Championships is a tremendous achievement and a reward for years of hard work, sacrifice and dedication. These young athletes represent the exciting future of South African track cycling.”
Stedman emphasized that facing off against the planet’s elite under-19 field is a critical stepping stone for their development. “Competing against the very best juniors in the world is an invaluable experience that will shape their careers for years to come,” he added, noting that the entire South African cycling family will be backing the squad as they hunt for the rainbow jersey.
